“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)” Is your life full of roses or thorns? We’ve heard an optimist sees the rose, the pessimist the thorns, but the realist sees both. Most of us fall into one of the first two categories.

Bad things happen, no matter how bright and shiny our outlook. Accidents, illness, tragic events all take place everywhere every day, so the chances that we will be affected at some point are very high. Just because we have strength through our faith cannot make us immune to any of them. But that faith does something for us that nothing else can -- it can lighten heavy burdens by making us understand that our journey won’t end when we’re struck by them.

You see, every thorn has its rose. We may be pricked, we may even bleed, but we know that the thorn is beneath the rose. The beautiful, fragrant bud rising above that sticker is ever so much more pleasant to look at and smell, and it even leaves a long lasting memory that lives well beyond the injury from that thorn.

You see? Life really can be a bed of roses!